In Shakespeare's time a father would have every right to influence Portia's marriage. Marriages were often brokered deals between two families. In today's secular Western society women are given much more power over their own destinies. That sort of respect for women is a good thing.
I do not think they should be the villains. Thye just wanted to be the rulers of ther home. After all the garden was theres before it was a garden. Yes they are the antagonists but it is there home. It is not fair that snakes get such bad reps just because thy are snakes.
